Looking Like A Hard Target

The way you present yourself makes a difference. Sounds like an article on job interviews doesn’t it? Well this is about personal security and preventing being a victim. How can your looks do this? I’m going to explain.
Several years ago we had two dogs. One was a Pit Bull. She was good sized and not loud. She was a horrible watch dog. But she was one of the most gentle dogs I’ve ever seen. She would be patient with children and loving to anyone. But she was a big Pit Bull! At the same time we also had a Border Collie. These are one of the breeds you see running around the back of a ranch pick-up barking their head off. One thing about Borders is that they are fiercely loyal and protective of their owners and families. When people would drive up to our house they would see the Collie barking her head off. But they were afraid of the tail-wagging Pit Bull! The UPS guy was told over and over again that the Pit Bull only wanted her head scratched and to beware of the Border Collie. She was not mean, but a great watch dog and very protective. But looks seem to be everything. Everyone was afraid of the Pit Bull.
The same goes for personal defense. You don’t have to be in perfect shape, be 6 foot 4 and look like an operator, but you can do things to look like a hard target.
Knowledge is Power. Knowledge reduces fear and builds confidence. Confidence is a non-victim quality. Read books and articles about self-defense. Do what you can to clarify your mindset of how confrontations happen, how to avoid them, and how to respond if you can't. The most dangerous attitude in a confrontation is the, "It will never happen to me Syndrome." The fact that you are reading this article already puts you well ahead in the "non-victim game."
Work On Yourself From the Inside Out. This article is more the straight forward aspects of reducing your victim potential. There are many other aspects associated to personality and psychology that impact your victim potential and your ability to deal effectively with a confrontation. This just scratches the surface of what we need to study and learn. We should do what we can to increase our self-esteem, mental toughness, motivation, etc.
Your potential of becoming a victim is influenced, in large part, to the unconscious signals you project to an assailant. Predators, whether deliberately or intuitively, form an opinion about you and how easy you will be to dominate and control. They are looking for a weak, submissive and unaware target that won't (or can't) fight back.
You can control the non-verbal signals you project by investing time in the study and practice of self-defense. Your projected body language will take care of itself. You can't fake it. You must earn it. This is not as difficult as you might think. If you really want to prevent or dramatically reduce the probability of becoming a victim, prepare yourself. Preparation equals prevention!
I suggest giving people a split-second glance so that you have put them on notice that you know they are there. You are talking with your body and telling them, “I see you. If you’re up to no good I know it, and I am not an easy target.” When a predator knows that you have seen him, he may look for another target because the element of surprise is lost.
If you get the feeling that you’re being watched or checked out, cast a casual glance in the direction of the person watching you. After looking at someone people have a tendency to look down or away. It signals intimidation. Once you glance at that person return your head to the forward position keeping your head on the level.
As you look around, your subconscious brain will be picking up details and information and transferring that knowledge to your conscious mind as feelings or to locations on your body as physical sensations. In other words, your intuition will be actively giving you feedback. If it picks up something unusual, you will definitely get an alert. Train yourself to hear it no matter how softly it may initially caution you.
Situational awareness is a notch up from simply noticing things, since it involves trying to anticipate what will occur. For instance, if you see a man who appears under the influence of a substance, consider crossing to the other side of the street as a precaution. You have not merely seen him but you have also taken steps to prevent a worse situation.
You have taken a critical step toward staying safe by being cognizant of the way you walk, by putting people around you on notice that you are aware of them and not scared (by maintaining your head on the level) and by trusting your gut instincts and taking precautionary steps through the use of situational awareness. These behaviors, interpreted by predators, send a strong message that you are not vulnerable. You are a hard target.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn